ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The friends of a Nease High School teacher are asking the community for help as he recovers from an e-bike accident that happened on Saturday.
According to a GoFundMe campaign, Derek Coghlan is in the ICU, progressing well, but he still needs to rest. His doctors are recommending that he not have visitors.
The fundraiser took in nearly $40,000 in just 24 hours — and donations are still coming in. As of Wednesday night, the campaign has surpassed $42,000.
“Many of you know Derek and his wife, Julie and their two sons, Jack and Finn,” the GoFundMe reads. “This has been an incredibly difficult and uncertain time for their entire family, and we want to surround them with as much love and support as possible.”
Those who are unable to contribute are asked to share the fundraiser and keep the Coghlan family in their thoughts and prayers.
News4JAX spoke with his former students who say his impact stretches well beyond the classroom walls.
Cecilia Molis graduated from Nease in 2020 and took Coghlan’s IB Literature class during her junior year. She says his lessons were about more than just reading and writing.
“When you took his class, you were going to become a better reader, you’re going to be a better writer — and that was certain,” Molis said. “But also, you would become a better learner. He definitely taught you to question everything.”
Nihal Kondabrolu graduated last year and also took Coghlan’s literature class his junior year. He says the relationship didn’t end when the school year did.
“Even senior year, his door is always open,” Kondabrolu said. “I stopped by a lot of times. He even wrote my rec letters for college.”
When news of the accident spread on Monday, former students were stunned.
“I didn’t really think it was him for a second,” Kondabrolu said. “I thought it was another one of his one-man shows because I just kept seeing all the stories and I really looked into it.”
He quickly texted Coghlan’s son, Jack, a close friend. “Somebody that’s that good to everybody — you wouldn’t expect something like this to happen to them,” Kondabrolu said. “They don’t deserve it.”
Molis described a similar reaction. “He had such a profound impact on me when I was a student there,” she said. “It’s just crazy to me.”
The outpouring of financial support has been immediate. For his former students, the more than $42,000 raised reflects exactly who Coghlan is.
“I think that just shows his profound impact, not only on the Nease community, but also the St. Augustine community,” Molis said.
Kondabrolu echoed that sentiment. “He’s taught so many people in the past 20 years,” he said. “The staple here at Nease, Landrum — just everywhere around here. Even if you haven’t had his class, the families themselves — my parents had two kids go through his class and they have such good things to say about him.”
For those who want Coghlan to know he has support as he begins what could be a long recovery, his former students have a message.
“Just thank you, and you got it,” Molis said. “We’re there for you and we’ll be in your corner, just like he was for us as students and as people.”
“No matter what — where he’s at, in his head, physically, mentally — he is loved,” Kondabrolu added. “I’ve never said that to him, but he is very loved. There’s a whole community right here to support him.”
Click here to support the GoFundMe.
News4JAX has not learned what happened that led to the injury, but has requested more information from St. Johns County officials.
